Travel Guide
Train Models
In December, 2008, six models of Shinkansen trains are running on Tokaido, Sanyo Shinkansen lines. You can see which train serieses are suitable for your travel with the following tables.
Vehicle Description
| Model | N700 Series | 700 Series | 500 Series | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Illustration |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Operation Started | 2007 | 1999 | 1997 | |
| Train Set | 16 cars | 16 cars | 16 cars |
8 cars |
| Service Zone | Tokyo - Hakata | Tokyo - Hakata | Tokyo - Hakata | Shin-Osaka - Hakata |
| Highest Velocity | 300 km/h (270 km/h within Tokaido Shinkansen line) |
285 km/h (270 km/h within Tokaido Shinkansen line) |
300 km/h (270 km/h within Tokaido Shinkansen line) |
285 km/h |
| Capacity | 1323 p (of them 200 p in first-class cars) |
1323 p (of them 200 p in first-class cars) |
1324 p (of them 200 p in first-class cars) |
608 p (no first-class cars) |
| Lavatories | a set for every 2 cars (western x2, gents' x1) |
a set for every 2 cars (squat x1, western x1, gents' x1) |
a set for every 2 cars (squat x1, western x1, gents' x1) |
a set for every 2 cars |
| Lav Supporting Ostomates | 1 lav | NA | NA | NA |
| Smoking Cars | NA | 4 cars | 4 cars | NA |
| Smoking Rooms | 6 rooms | NA | NA | 2 rooms |
| Model | Rail Star | 300 Series | 100 Series | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illustration |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Operation Started | 2000 | 1992 | 1985 | |
| Train Set | 8 cars | 16 cars | 6 cars | 4 cars |
| Service Zone | Shin-Osaka - Hakata | Tokyo - Hakata | Shin-Osaka - Hakata (Okayama - Hakata for 4 coach train) |
|
| Highest Velocity | 285 km/h | 270 km/h | 220 km/h | |
| Capacity | 571 p (no first-class cars) |
1323 p (of them 200 p in first-class cars) |
394 p (no first-class cars) |
250 p (no first-class cars) |
| Lavatories | a set for every 2 cars (squat x1, western x1, gents' x1) |
a set for every 2 cars (squat x1, western x1, gents' x1) |
a set for every 2 cars (squat x1, western x1, gents' x1) |
a set for every 2 cars (squat x1, western x1, gents' x1) |
| Lav Supporting Ostomates | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Smoking Cars | 2 cars | 4 cars | 2 cars | 1 cars |
| Smoking Rooms | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Cabin (second-class)
| Model | N700 Series | 700 Series | 500 Series | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrated |
|
|
|
|
| Seat Alignment | 3 + 2 seating | 3 + 2 seating | 3 + 2 seating (2 + 2 seating in car 6 of 8 coach train) |
|
| Seat Pitch | 1040 mm (1023 mm, end cars) |
1040 mm | 1020 mm | |
| Seat Breadth | 440 mm (460 mm, B seat) |
430 mm (460 mm, B seat) |
425 mm (455 mm, B seat) |
|
| Seat Cushion | complex springing | cast urethane | cast urethane | |
| Tables | 410 mm x 250 mm | available | available | |
| Outlets | installed on window side and end rows (total 553 seats) | installed at end rows in specific trains | NA | |
| Windows | 500 mm x 520 mm (window stile height at 780 mm) |
700 mm x 590 mm (window stile height at 710 mm) |
? | |
| Ceiling Height | 2170 mm (2100 mm, end cars) |
2200 mm | ? | |
| Model | Rail Star | 300 Series | 100 series | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrated |
|
|
|
|
| Seat Alignment | 2 + 2 seating (3 + 2 seating, cars No. 1 - 3) |
3 + 2 seating | 2 + 2 seating | |
| Seat Pitch | 1040 mm | 1040 mm | 1040 mm | |
| Seat Breadth | ? | 430 mm (460 mm, B seat) |
430 mm | |
| Seat Cushion | cast urethane | cast urethane | metalic springing | |
| Tables | available | available | available | |
| Outlets | NA | NA | NA | |
| Windows | 700 mm x 590 mm (window stile height at 710 mm) |
780 mm x 660 mm (window stile height at 710 mm) |
? | |
| Ceiling Height | 2200 mm | 2135mm | ? | |
Cabin (first-class, called "Green Cars")
| Model | N700 Series | 700 Series | 500 Series | 300 Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrated |
|
|
|
|
| Seat Alignment | 2 + 2 seating | 2 + 2 seating | 2 + 2 seating | 2 + 2 seating |
| Seat Pitch | 1160 mm | 1160 mm | 1160 mm | 1160 mm |
| Seat Breadth | 480 mm | 475 mm | 475 mm | 475 mm |
| Seat Cushion | complex springing | cast urethane | cast urethane | cast urethane |
| Tables | 410 mm x 300 mm | available | available | available |
| Outlets | installed at every seat | installed at end rows in specific trains | NA | NA |
| Reading Light | embedded in seat (high-intensity LED) |
embedded on overhead bin (halogen lamp) |
embedded on overhead bin | embedded on overhead bin |
| Blankets | available | available | available | available |
